A Workbench Tour
April 21, 2020 4:55 AM Subscribe
Renowned woodworker, author, and Lost Art Press co-founder Christopher Schwarz is making the most of the downtime by walking people through his workshop, and telling the story of all his workbenches: The $175 workbench, the power tool workbench, English joiner's workbench, the cherry Roubo, the Holzapffel workbench, the vintage Ulmia, the Giulam workbench, the Moravian workbench, French oak Roubo, and the lightweight commercial workbench.
The only thing of his that I've built is an enlarged version of his staked bedframe from "The Anarchist Design Book". It's great and the build went swimmingly.
posted by RolandOfEld at 5:07 AM on April 21, 2020
posted by RolandOfEld at 5:07 AM on April 21, 2020
Schwarz. No T. His cousin is kind of a big deal.
Schwarz previously.
posted by zamboni at 5:15 AM on April 21, 2020 [4 favorites]
Schwarz previously.
posted by zamboni at 5:15 AM on April 21, 2020 [4 favorites]
His re-print of The Essential Woodworker kickstarted my interest about ten years ago. The book (and Schwarz' appearances on The Woodwright's Shop) are a great introduction to hand tool woodworking. I've learned a lot and feel it was a safer route for a klutz like myself. Last year I made a tenor ukulele with only hand tools. I always send AskMes about woodworking in his direction.
posted by bonobothegreat at 5:42 AM on April 21, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by bonobothegreat at 5:42 AM on April 21, 2020 [2 favorites]
I'm never going to be a serious woodworker (I can do framing-type work, but never gone down the road of fine finish carpentry and furniture building), but for some reason building workbenches appeals to me. So these videos are great, thank you for posting.
posted by Dip Flash at 5:54 AM on April 21, 2020
posted by Dip Flash at 5:54 AM on April 21, 2020
Apologies for pre-coffee, on mobile typo above.
Dip Flash : his books on the subject (yes, multiple books) are great as well.
posted by RolandOfEld at 6:14 AM on April 21, 2020
Dip Flash : his books on the subject (yes, multiple books) are great as well.
posted by RolandOfEld at 6:14 AM on April 21, 2020
I've particularly been pleased by his essays on cost structures, labor rates, and pricing in his furniture-making business. Those are super important topics to share to help people create viable ventures.
Schwarz is a gentleman, scholar, and low-key revolutionary.
posted by Glomar response at 6:29 AM on April 21, 2020 [1 favorite]
Schwarz is a gentleman, scholar, and low-key revolutionary.
posted by Glomar response at 6:29 AM on April 21, 2020 [1 favorite]
Chris is an awesome guy and amazing influence on the woodworking community, which has benefitted enormously from his historical research and the perspectives they instill. I took a class with him several years ago and learned tons. The Lost Arts Press is also a fantastic resource for the burgeoning hand-tool community.
I'd missed these links and look forward to jumping in. I've got a couple giant slabs of 80mm ash wood seasoning in the shop I'd planned on using to make Roy's version of the Roubo bench but it may end up getting used to make a Roubo-style kitchen island instead. Still a workbench, I guess, but with fewer work-holding accessories.
posted by St. Oops at 6:52 AM on April 21, 2020 [1 favorite]
I'd missed these links and look forward to jumping in. I've got a couple giant slabs of 80mm ash wood seasoning in the shop I'd planned on using to make Roy's version of the Roubo bench but it may end up getting used to make a Roubo-style kitchen island instead. Still a workbench, I guess, but with fewer work-holding accessories.
posted by St. Oops at 6:52 AM on April 21, 2020 [1 favorite]
The only thing of his that I've built is an enlarged version of his staked bedframe from "The Anarchist Design Book".
Last year they published an expanded edition of The Anarchist Design Book; however, because Schwarz & Co. are menschy mensches, they are (Or at least were, not sure if it was a finite offer) offering a free PDF of the expanded version to owners of the first edition.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 7:32 AM on April 21, 2020 [2 favorites]
Last year they published an expanded edition of The Anarchist Design Book; however, because Schwarz & Co. are menschy mensches, they are (Or at least were, not sure if it was a finite offer) offering a free PDF of the expanded version to owners of the first edition.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 7:32 AM on April 21, 2020 [2 favorites]
Still a workbench, I guess, but with fewer work-holding accessories.
Go all in: Carve a roast in a holdfast. Put potatoes between bench dogs and peel them with a spokeshave. Turn a Serrano ham stand into a meat lathe.
posted by jedicus at 7:43 AM on April 21, 2020 [7 favorites]
Go all in: Carve a roast in a holdfast. Put potatoes between bench dogs and peel them with a spokeshave. Turn a Serrano ham stand into a meat lathe.
posted by jedicus at 7:43 AM on April 21, 2020 [7 favorites]
Go all in
My dream kitchen does include an overhead crane. When asked why, I reply: it's utility will reveal itself. For the Roubo Kitchen Island project I have considered a wagon vise, but would rather not have bits of chopped up food falling in the dog holes.
posted by St. Oops at 9:35 AM on April 21, 2020 [2 favorites]
My dream kitchen does include an overhead crane. When asked why, I reply: it's utility will reveal itself. For the Roubo Kitchen Island project I have considered a wagon vise, but would rather not have bits of chopped up food falling in the dog holes.
posted by St. Oops at 9:35 AM on April 21, 2020 [2 favorites]
bits of chopped up food falling in the dog holes
If it falls on the floor, it’s fair game. 🐶
posted by zamboni at 9:56 AM on April 21, 2020 [4 favorites]
If it falls on the floor, it’s fair game. 🐶
posted by zamboni at 9:56 AM on April 21, 2020 [4 favorites]
He's a neat dude and a legend in the woodworking world. I hope I get a chance to meet him someday.
I got one of his workbench books a couple of years ago, got inspired and bought a few hundred dollars worth of hard maple with which to build a bench. It's all still sitting untouched in my basement. The job is way too intimidating.
What I really need is a few months when I'm locked in my house, with no ability to go anywhere, with a big need for a distraction from the ongoings of the world around me. If only I had some sort of period like that I might actually get started on the project. If only.
posted by bondcliff at 10:46 AM on April 21, 2020 [3 favorites]
I got one of his workbench books a couple of years ago, got inspired and bought a few hundred dollars worth of hard maple with which to build a bench. It's all still sitting untouched in my basement. The job is way too intimidating.
What I really need is a few months when I'm locked in my house, with no ability to go anywhere, with a big need for a distraction from the ongoings of the world around me. If only I had some sort of period like that I might actually get started on the project. If only.
posted by bondcliff at 10:46 AM on April 21, 2020 [3 favorites]
The job is way too intimidating.
Ironic, given that I've seen what you make on IG and know the quality of your work!
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 11:06 AM on April 21, 2020 [1 favorite]
Ironic, given that I've seen what you make on IG and know the quality of your work!
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 11:06 AM on April 21, 2020 [1 favorite]
My favorite detail is that all of them irritate him.
posted by ivan ivanych samovar at 5:24 PM on April 21, 2020 [5 favorites]
posted by ivan ivanych samovar at 5:24 PM on April 21, 2020 [5 favorites]
The post is missing reference yet to Chris's exploration of Roman Workbenches.
posted by St. Oops at 9:44 PM on April 21, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by St. Oops at 9:44 PM on April 21, 2020 [1 favorite]
Funny. I was just looking at making this workbench, which is nowhere close to the same league as the benches listed at the top but you get your inspiration where you can, right?
posted by Big Al 8000 at 9:00 PM on April 22, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Big Al 8000 at 9:00 PM on April 22, 2020 [1 favorite]
Popular Woodworking uploaded a video of Chris making the cherry Roubo to YouTube if anyone wants to follow the build and get inspired to give it a go.
posted by St. Oops at 1:02 AM on May 12, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by St. Oops at 1:02 AM on May 12, 2020 [2 favorites]
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posted by RolandOfEld at 5:06 AM on April 21, 2020